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Posted: 12/28/2008 1:10:19 PM EDT
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Ive been playing with the idea of getting a 37mm M203 clone for sometime now..and I was just wonder if anyone had any pics from the Vietnam era of them being used. They came out later in the conflict, but I've only been able to find a scant number of pictures of them in the field.
Anyone? And also, gunbroker has zero...where can else can I nab one? Thanks! Charlie |
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Found a photo here.
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=40324 
Good info pulled from this site. http://world.guns.ru/grenade/gl07-e.htm The M203 grenade launcher has been developed between 1967 and 1968 by the AAI Corporation of USA on the contract from US Army. this contract has been issued on the basis of the experience, gained by the US armed forces in Vietnam with the M79 40mm grenade launcher (which was successful design but required an additional personal defense weapon to be carried by grenadier) and unsuccessful XM-148/CG-4 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher, developed in mid-sixties by Colt in attempt to cure deficiencies of the M79. The new underbarrel grenade launcher was intended to be used with all available 40mm ammunition, and to be attached to the existing infantry rifle then in service, the M16A1.In the late 1968 the AAI design has been type classified as XM203, and in early 1970 first M203 units went to Vietnam for field evaluation. After successful tests US Army ordered large quantities of M203, and since AAI had no resources fore mass production, the manufacturing contract has been issued to Colt. latter on, more or less exact copies of M203 were produced in Egypt, South Korea and Bulgaria (as UBGL-M1, with mount suitable for Kalashnikov AKM and AK-74 type rifles). |
| SOG recon teams were among the first troops to field-test the XM-203 during the Vietnam War; I've got quite a few photos of them being used and abused by those lads. However, I am under the impression that most recon men preferred the standard CAR-15 and a cut-down M-79 over the bulky XM-203. |
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Either get the real deal or a Full metal Airsoft. You can also get A M203 receiver and 37mm barrel. It transfers like any rifle or pistol, then slap a M203 37mm barrel on it. The RPB type 37mm Flare launchers look super cheesy, and aren't all that practical. If you go the airsoft route you save a ton of money. 37-40mm ammo is very expensive, even if you pack your own rounds. So unless you work for da GUVment and get free ammo, airsoft is the better investment. Also note you will have to buy a real mounting kit as the airsoft mount kits don't work on real AR15's...
Airsoft Link 40MM Link Cheaper M203 Link |
I own an LMT M203 and I can say that it's not a terribly practical thing to own, but it's certainly cool! How many people do you know that can say they own a real, active grenade launcher  Got mine while I was a dealer so I got it kinda cheap. If you want a turnkey 37MM launcher Randy Shivak is your man. Fully functional M203's have been, for a while, kinda hard to get. Only recently have I found there to be complete M203's readily available. As my memory serves me, an M203 was mostly a thing of getting a stripped receiver and finding all the parts to build it with. Finding a complete colt that isn't a reweld is sorta the holy grail of M203's. They exist but are not common at all. Anyway, enjoy!
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There is a 37mm mount and launcher on the EE right now if it hasn't sold. (two different ads) I sold my M203 HGs a couple years ago when I figured out that it was a lot of extra weight for nothing. I did have a fantasy for awhile about showing up at a friend's New Year's Eve party in Jackson Hole WY and doing a fireworks display, but then I decided it was just too expensive and too much bother as I have too many damn projects as it is. You gotta admit, it would be cool: "Lemme just get something out of my truck..."
ETA: According to Andy McNab, the SAS really loved the M16 carbine with the 203 on it. They considered it a real force multiplier - as it should be considered. In the hands of an expert, the real thing could unleash a world of hurt. Talk about breaking contact... ETA II: Now a 37mm 40mm M79... |
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Quoted:
There is a 37mm mount and launcher on the EE right now if it hasn't sold. (two different ads) I sold my M203 HGs a couple years ago when I figured out that it was a lot of extra weight for nothing. I did have a fantasy for awhile about showing up at a friend's New Year's Eve party in Jackson Hole WY and doing a fireworks display, but then I decided it was just too expensive and too much bother as I have too many damn projects as it is. You gotta admit, it would be cool: "Lemme just get something out of my truck..." ETA: According to Andy McNab, the SAS really loved the M16 carbine with the 203 on it. They considered it a real force multiplier - as it should be considered. In the hands of an expert, the real thing could unleash a world of hurt. Talk about breaking contact... ETA II: Now a 37mm 40mm M79... The SAS also use cut down RPD's for IAD's to break contact. They cut the stock down, the barrel in front of the gas cylinder and got 125rds in the 100rd drum (somehow). The also used a piece of linoleum as a spacer in the back of the drum. |
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Quoted:
There is a 37mm mount and launcher on the EE right now if it hasn't sold. (two different ads) I sold my M203 HGs a couple years ago when I figured out that it was a lot of extra weight for nothing. I did have a fantasy for awhile about showing up at a friend's New Year's Eve party in Jackson Hole WY and doing a fireworks display, but then I decided it was just too expensive and too much bother as I have too many damn projects as it is. You gotta admit, it would be cool: "Lemme just get something out of my truck..." ETA: According to Andy McNab, the SAS really loved the M16 carbine with the 203 on it. They considered it a real force multiplier - as it should be considered. In the hands of an expert, the real thing could unleash a world of hurt. Talk about breaking contact... ETA II: Now a 37mm 40mm M79... The ritck is to have one M16A1 upper with the 37mm mounted, and another one available sans 37mm. Back when uppers were *really* cheap this was cheaper than trying to buy some sort of stock for the 37mm. 
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